The Dragons' Den judges were left speechless on Thursday's episode after a 'heart-wrenching' pitch from a Ukrainian refugee - as she managed to secure a rare four offers. When entrepreneur Yana Smaglo, was forced to flee her country two years ago following Russia's invasion, she left with just the clothes on her back, a laptop and just enough cash to start investing in her distribution business.
![[Although he ultimately decided not to invest, Peter Jones was left visibly emotional by her story]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/22/94456649-14318943-image-a-58_1737672994103.jpg)
Appearing on the BBC show, she pitched her plans to expand her Ukrainian clothing distribution 'Nenya', hoping to secure an investment of £80,000 for a 10 per cent equity share of the company. After hearing the harrowing tale of how the young merchant built up her business from scratch, several of the Dragons were left speechless - with Deborah Meaden admitting the story had left her 'choked up'.
![[The businesswoman got exactly the offer she was hoping for with both Deborah, Steven, and Sara (pictured) agreeing to give her the money she wanted]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/22/94456639-14318943-The_businesswoman_got_exactly_the_offer_she_was_hoping_for_with_-a-60_1737673046955.jpg)
She eventually managed to secure a rare four offers from the Dragons - including what she had asked for. However, social media viewers were less convinced, and believed the Dragons had only made an 'emotional' offer, rather than looking at the facts. Despite worries that her English wouldn't be 'good' enough to understand the judges questions, Yana comprehensively won them over, with four offering her investments.
![[Appearing on the BBC show, she pitched her plans to expand her Ukrainian clothing distribution 'Nenya']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/22/94456647-14318943-image-a-63_1737673149810.jpg)
Yana, who is currently living in Leeds, owns a distribution company that buys and sells authentic Ukrainian clothes for international wholesale - which she hopes to sell in luxury retailers such as Harrods and Harvey Nichols. The clothes have price points between £70 and £150.
